Bhubaneswar, Jul 8 : Odisha government is planning to set up eco cottages at selected destinations in the state to provide round the year facilities to the tourists
The project would be implemented on pilot basis at two destinations-Hirakud in Sambalpur district and Baliput (Satkoshia) in Cuttack district.
Tourism Principal Secretary Vishal Dev told a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary S C Mohapatra that around six acres of land have already been identified at each of these two tourist spots.
Around Rs.6.25 crore will be spend in each destination for undertaking works such as land development, landscaping and setting up of ecologically suitable and sustainable cottages.
The Chief Secretary directed officials to design, develop and maintain the cottages on PPP mode with credible private partners having experience in the trade.
He assured that the Government would provide all support like viable gap funding for setting up the cottages, and infrastructural support like road, power and water.
The private partner would also be provided handholding support for availing different statutory permissions. It was decided to select private partners through an appropriate open bidding process and to involve them as a stakeholder from the beginning of the projects.
The meeting deliberated on the feasibility of developing such facilities at Paradeep, Daringbadi, Pati Sonapur and Koraput.
Mr Mohapatra directed the Tourism department to lease out various tourism properties like Panthanivas and Road Side Amenity and operationalize those through operation and management (O&M) partners.
